By , ,
Published October 19, 2015
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I've put together a list to help you feel more "green" when it comes to diet and exercise. Enjoy and good luck!
--Walk or ride your bike to work, school, or even to run errands. Remember to follow pedestrian rules and always use safety precautions. You'll save on gas, be environmentally-friendly and get exercise.
--Buy re-useable lunch gear. Ditch paper or plastic lunch bags for bags and containers you can use over and over again. They've gotten a bit more stylish from the days of plastic thermos and lunch pails so take your pick.
--Update your water bottle. First there were plastic, non-breakable sports bottles. Now the trend is leaning toward aluminum or stainless steel due to polycarbonate/BPA (bisphenol A) scares (read more here). There is less risk of chemicals leaching into your water with these materials so they're a great investment for the whole family.
--Visit a Farmer's Market near you and buy local. Better yet, join a CSA.
--Compost! There is a science behind composting, especially with consideration to the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio so do your homework. When done well, these can be such a rewarding endeavor. Check these sites out for more info:
--Plan your garden. It's that time of year to start thinking about planting fresh herbs and veggies. They can make spring and summer cooking a total blast and reduce your carbon footprint.
--Teach your kids about planting and farming. After all, they're our future and it's important they see sustainable agriculture happen every step of the way.
--Support a local winery, brewery, or restaurant. Let them know how much you love their products.
--Try a new green veggie! As Kermit used to say, "it's not easy being green" so give things like kale or leeks a chance. You'll never look back once you see how much flavor they can add.
--Write emails to legislators reminding them to support local programming for school gardens, improved school lunches, community supported agriculture, and other "green" efforts.
Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of www.Skinnyandthecity.com. She is also the creator of The F-Factor DietaC/, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being. For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/health/top-ten-ways-to-go-green-for-your-health